'Twas the night before Christmas...

...and Jon realized he forgot to upload any Christmas tracks from our recent gigs. This one features Mark as Elvis, and Jon on the bottle caps. Merry Christmas!

Download the MP3

Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig Ale (bottled) - 3.0

Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig Ale
Brown Ale
Boston Beer Company
Boston, MA
Alcohol Content: 5.9%

Jon:
I'm quickly becoming convinced that most Sam Adams brews taste a bit like cola, but maybe it's just an effect of how damn fizzy they are. The predominant taste here is orange, but the spice is too subtle.

3.1	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 6/10 3/5 6/10 4/5 3/5 6/10

Mark:
Malty--and fizzy. This tastes OK, but it made me feel funny, too. I'm not sure what it is about Sam Adams, but it's never sat well with me.

3.1	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 6/10 3/5 7/10 3/5 3/5 6/10

Jere:
I was hoping to taste some of the cinnamon that was promised me by this one's label, but sadly I could not. Made me long for some pumpkin spice beer. Now that's good stuff.

3.0	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 4/10 3/5 6/10 3/5 3/5 6/10

Samuel Adams Winter Lager (bottled) - 2.4

Samuel Adams Winter Lager
Weizen Bock
Boston Beer Company
Boston, MA
Alcohol Content: 5.8%

Jon:
This stuff is really fizzy and almost numbing on the tongue. The spices are noticeable, but this brew seems a tad watery. I really need to check the label more closely before I pour for Mark...

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Mark:
This beer smelled nice, but it made my face numb and my throat itch. Then we realized it was a wheat beer, which I can't have. Oops! Interesting anyway--haven't tasted anything like it in a long time.

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Jere:
Carbonation = bad for this beer, and the rest didn't seem to whet my whistle much either. Oh, and it almost reduced Mestizo by one-third.

2.0	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 2/5 6/10 1/5 4/10 3/5 1/5 3/10

Rocky Mountain IPA (bottled) - 3.3

Rocky Mountain IPA
India Pale Ale
Fort Collins Brewery
Fort Collins, CO
Alcohol Content: ?

Jon:
Foamy head, with a somewhat sour nose that detracts from the smell by itself, but enhances a nice bitter orange flavor. Maybe I just haven't had enough IPA lately, but I like it.

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Mark:
I always love a good IPA--this one is great in its slightly hop-sided balance.

3.9	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 8/10 3/5 8/10 3/5 5/5 8/10

Jere:
After a few Guinness pints, the IPA-ness of this really stands out. Perhaps next time a palate cleanser would be a good idea, but right now I'm not in the tasting mood for bitter.

2.4	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 2/5 5/10 3/5 5/10 1/5 3/5 5/10

Powder Hound (bottled) - 1.9

Powder Hound
English Strong Ale (Winter Seasonal)
Big Sky Brewing Company
Missoula, MT
Alcohol Content: 6.2%

Jon:
Looks like tea, tastes like coffee. Bad coffee.

2.3	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 2/5 5/10 2/5 5/10 2/5 3/5 4/10

Mark:
I gotta agree with Jon: Coffee--watery, bitter coffee. This was a little disappointing. And it gave me heartburn.

1.5	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 1/5 3/10 1/5 3/10 2/5 2/5 3/10

Jere:
Not as opposed to the tea/coffee taste as Jon, but it is pretty foul. Cocoa was suggested as an alternative taste, but I disagree... Won't be drinking any more of this one, though. Bah! Humbug.

1.9	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 1/5 4/10 3/5 5/10 1/5 2/5 3/10

First Bite Boulder

Last weekend, Kate and I partook from the West End's offering in the annual First Bite Boulder event. I had the recommended beer flight with my meal, and I fell face first into the best beer pairing of my life so far:

Warm basil & roasted red pepper goat cheese dip
---paired with---
New Belgium's Mothership Wit

The tangy goat cheese mingled brilliantly with the slightly sour citrus flavors of the wit. I had it 4 days ago and I still can't get over it. And that was only the first course--the rest of the meal was wonderful as well. I was served a Stone IPA with the second course and Avery's Ellie's Brown Ale with the third, but nothing could quite match such a superb beer and cheese pairing.

I washed the meal down with a Buffalo Trace on the rocks, which was an okay choice for after dinner, but I wouldn't recommend it otherwise. It's very fruity, heavy on apple and pear flavors, and just isn't quite what I'm generally looking for in a bourbon.

All in all, it was quite an amazing meal. I'm definitely inspired to experiment with some beer and cheese pairings now. Be sure send any good suggestions my way.

-Jon

Old Jubilation (bottled) - 3.4

Old Jubilation
English Strong Ale (Winter Seasonal)
Avery Brewing
Boulder, CO
Alcohol Content: 8.0%

Jon:
This is a dark and bitter ale, with an underlying chocolatey taste mostly masked by roasted coffee. The finish is really bitter, and the alcohol taste is a bit overpowering. Not a bad choice, but this is the type of beer that requires the right mood. I wish I could try it cellared like Avery's website suggests.

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Mark:
This beer looks like Coca Cola. Usually I'm not horribly fond of dark ales. They taste like chocolate and coffee. Not that I don't like chocolate and coffee (not together, thank you very much), but I like my beer to taste like beer and my coffee to taste like coffee--nothing else. This is nice and bittery though. A little clearer than most--it's almost like it's a dark ale mixed with an IPA or cola mixed with beer. Not my favorite, but not half bad, not half bad at all.

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Jere:
Sausages! That's what this one tasted like at first, but that quickly faded. As Jon says, it is a meaty beer. If we didn't have some single malt scotch to try, I would have had another. Ye Olde Jube!

3.5	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 5/5 7/10 4/5 3/10 4/5 5/5 7/10

2° Below (bottled) - 4.2

2° Below
Extra Special Bitter (Winter Seasonal)
New Belgium Brewing Co.
Fort Collins, CO
Alcohol Content: 6.6%

Jon:
What a great way to transition to more wintery brews. This perfect seasonal has enough hoppy flavor to keep this hophead happy, but also has enough balance and substance to get me prepared for the cold nights ahead. There will be at least one of these in my fridge for the entire season.

4.2	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 8/10 5/5 9/10 4/5 3/5 9/10

Mark:
I have been waiting for this... This stuff is like Fat Tire on steroids. Crisp, clean, and balanced with a warm alcohol afterglow. Perfect for that cold, blustery day.

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Jere:
Every spring when this disappears from the shelves we always mourn its passing and long for the fall when it reappears, so much so that Mark had to call us on the way to a hunting trip, no less, when he saw it on sale once again a few weeks ago. This is what gets us through those long winter nights.

4.2	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 8/10 4/5 9/10 5/5 4/5 8/10

Deep Blue Eyes

I'm not sure why, but this has become one my favorite songs lately. When I first wrote it, I had trouble hitting the low notes, had trouble singing with enough intensity at the end, and just wasn't crazy about it for some reason. This is far from a perfect recording, but Jere's awesome piano part and my renewed fondness for the lyrics make me enjoy it quite a bit. Hopefully you agree.

Download the MP3

Ruination IPA (bottled) - 4.4

Ruination IPA
Imperial/Double IPA
Stone Brewing Co.
Escondido, CA
Alcohol Content: 7.7%

Jon:
Bitterly hoppy to the point of cottonmouth and tongue-tingling. For hop addicts, that's not a bad thing at all. Too intense for everyday drinking, but at this price I'd be pretty upset if I wanted it every day. A feat of hops.

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Mark:
Holy crap. Bitter perfection, like this girl I knew once. I actually like this a bit more than Arrogant Bastard. Oddly enough, if you drink enough, you sort of become numb to the hops and suddenly it tastes almost sweet! Mmmmmm... bittersweet perfection.

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Jere:
For the alcohol content, you can't do much better than this. The Ruination ruined us the first time we tried reviewing this, so this time we split a bomber and stayed coherent.

4.3	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 5/5 8/10 5/5 10/10 2/5 5/5 8/10

Arrogant Bastard Ale (bottled) - 3.9

Arrogant Bastard Ale
American Strong Ale
Stone Brewing Co.
Escondido, CA
Alcohol Content: 7.2%

Jon:
This is one of the more interesting ales I've tried. It's so powerful, but still balanced in an extreme sort of way--I don't really know what to think. But I like it. And I like Stone.

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Mark:
A very pretty beer--it's almost cherry red! It doesn't taste like cherries, though. This is an extreme beer--extremely hoppy but still balanced, just strong-tasting overall. Good stuff, I love it on tap. A beer to be enjoyed in moderation.

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Jere:
This arrogant brew will knock you right on your ass and laugh at you for thinking anything else would happen. Just shy of being too bitter, and that's saying a lot.

4.0	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 8/10 4/5 8/10 3/5 5/5 8/10

GABF Report

My first time at the Great American Beer Festival was awesomer than awesome can be. Mad props to Kate, Jim, and Jason for shelling out the $45 per ticket for the outing. Some of my favorite parts of the evening:

• Stone Brewing had a festival booth, and I took full advantage to try everything they had to offer. I was stoked to taste their 11th Anniversary Ale for the first time, but the best of the bunch was the Ruination IPA. I had once tried this premium beer in bottled form (which set me back over $16 for a six-pack), but it's absolutely amazing on tap. It's like a clown car of hops--you don't know how they all got in there, but you're smiling too much to care.
• We also had the distinct privilege of tasting Samuel Adam's Utopias, a premium barley wine that weighs in at a record-breaking 25% ABV. This is legendary stuff. It sells for over $200 a bottle on eBay, is illegal in 14 states, and has kicked the asses of both Chuck Norris and Jack Bauer. I've only tried a few barley wines in my day, probably because most of them tasted like someone dropped a vodka-infused Tootsie roll in a beer and left it in a dark corner for 6 months. Not Utopias. Sweet yet refined, intensely aromatic, hints of plum and toffee... simply sublime. By the time we went back for a second round, it was gone. Gone, but not forgotten. I'll probably still be talking about it next year.
• Arbor Brewing's Espresso Love Breakfast Stout was a notably tasty treat. It tastes just like chocolate-covered espresso beans.

There were plenty of other good brews, but as I was drinking a ton of beer and not taking notes, a few details have escaped me. If you plan on going with me to next year's shindig, here are some lessons that I've learned for next time:

• Take notes. You'll look like an ass, but part of the $45 investment is to find some good beers to buy the week after.
• Bring snacks. Those homemade pretzel necklaces are pretty ingenious.
• Have a tasting plan. Imagine tasting a barley wine, then an IPA, then a stout, then a wit, then repeating the whole process. It can really make that first sip pretty weird. It's tough to avoid wanting the closest beer in sight, but I might try to plan a loose progression of beer styles next time.
• Expect a stomachache.

-Jon

Crossing Into the Blue

Last weekend, our good friend Matt headed out for 12 weeks of officer training in the USAF. Here is his most oft-requested song, recorded at Organic Orbit on his last night in town. Good luck, buddy. See ya soon.

Download the MP3

Beer Fest

I'll be attending tonight's session of the Great American Beer Festival, which is a fantasy pretty much on par with drinking my way out of a full vat of beer. I was on the injury list just two days ago, but after some stomach-expanding meals and a couple Skinny Dips to prime myself for tonight, I think I'm ready. Wish me luck!

-Jon

Titan IPA (bottled) - 3.5

Titan IPA
India Pale Ale
Great Divide Brewing Company
Denver, CO
Alcohol Content: 8.6%

Jon:
This one is really bitter--which I like, but the aftertaste gets mighty harsh after a few swigs. Big and bold, but not a ton of complexity. Still good.

3.3	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 7/10 3/5 7/10 3/5 3/5 7/10

Mark:
Very hoppy. Hoppy, like the Easter bunny. Nice IPA--very nice, in fact--but not spectacular.

3.7	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 7/10 4/5 8/10 4/5 5/5 8/10

Jere:
Good in a pinch when Stone or Mojo aren't an options, but definitely second to those two when it comes down to it. Or, as the cliché goes, close, but no cigar. I did like the bottle slogan though: "Great minds drink alike."

3.5	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 6/10 4/5 7/10 3/5 5/5 7/10

Pete's Wicked Strawberry Blonde (bottled) - 3.2

Pete's Wicked Stawberry Blonde
Fruit Beer (Lager)
Pete's Brewing Company
Utica, NY
Alcohol Content: 5%

Jon:
I'll give this beer points for what it is--a fruit beer. It smells and tastes like strawberries, which would be great if I had a bigger sweet tooth. But really, for a fruity beer, it agrees with me better than many I've tried. Still too sweet.

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Jere:
Unfortunately Mark could not review this one due to its wheat content ("nasty wheat!") but he did give me the perfect description of the aroma: "Smells like pop tarts!" I have a bit of a sweet tooth as it is so that has skewed my perception of this fruit beer, since it does lean towards the sweeter side, but at the same time it is reminiscent of something from my wine cooler days, which is a bit of a turn off.

3.7	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 9/10 4/5 6/10 5/5 3/5 6/10

Pabst Blue Ribbon (can) - 1.7

Pabst Blue Ribbon
American-Style Lager
Pabst Brewing Company
Milwaukee, WI
Alcohol Content: 5%

Jon:
This is the first time I've poured a PBR from a can into a glass, and I hope it's the last. It looks like ginger ale and smells like... well, it smells like bad beer. Nonetheless, PBR has a place in my heart for being cheap, refreshing, and readily available. Ah, memories of youth.

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Mark:
First of all, this is a working man's beer--no pouring--it stays in the can it came in. And the can is quite nice--a 3 for appearance from me. As far as taste, palate, and flavor, it's pretty much what you'd expect. It tastes like beer--classic American beer. Mmmm... cheap beer. Not great, but a bargain! Unfortunately it gives me a raging headache if I drink even one. Oh well...

2.0	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 1/10 2/5 2/10 4/5 3/5 5/10

Jere:
Since Jon and I both poured ours into glasses, the slight variations in color and hue between the two were most apparent--clearly the QC process at this place leaves something to be desired... As for the taste, again, it's better than King Cobra, but that's not saying much.

1.2	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 1/5 1/10 2/5 1/10 4/5 1/5 2/10

Look Up

As I'm a complete idiot, during our last gig at the St. Julien I put the output from the mixer into the headphone jack of the iPod instead of the line-in jack. As you can imagine, the recording sounded like crud. So instead of a track from that night, you get another track from our last Folsom Coffee show. Lucky you.

-Jon

Download the MP3

Mojo (bottled) - 4.8

Mojo
India Pale Ale
Boulder Beer Company
Boulder, CO
Alcohol Content: 6.8%

Jon:
This is truly the ultimate IPA. There is a complexity and fullness here that seems to transcend the normal possibilities of hoppy beers. It really shouldn't be possible to get this sort of body and balance without sacrificing hops.

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Mark:
I said my favorite was yet to come--and here it is. This is hands down the best IPA that I have ever tasted. If I could only drink one beer for the rest of my life (horror of horrors), this would be it. Great hoppy, grapefruit flavor with a wonderful smooth palate and full aroma. Best bet for the money and I love that it's a Boulder brewery!

5.0	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 5/5 10/10 5/5 10/10 5/5 5/5 10/10

Jere:
I love Mojo as much as the next guy, but I'll have to sample a lot more brews before I hand out the 5.0. That said, this is the best contender for the perfect score as of yet... Two thumbs up!

4.6	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 9/10 5/5 9/10 4/5 5/5 9.5/10

No Mark, no review

Since wheat-allergic Mark is in recovery mode this week, Jere and I tried New Belgium's Mothership Wit, an organic wheat beer I had never before seen at my local liquor store. It's a good beer, very citrus-y and appropriate for late summer, but it was a tad too sweet for me to want a second (as there were other selections next to it in the fridge). I think I'll end up buying it again. We probably should've written a review to have a little variety on the ol' blog, but we were so busy practicing classical music that we didn't have time. The rousing Harry Potter discussion with Kate didn't help our time management much either.

In other news, someone needs to get us a gig in Albuquerque so we can have some space beer.

-Jon

Where were you on the night of August 4th, 2007?

We were playing at Folsom Coffee, and you should've been there. Here's a track in case you missed it.

Download the MP3

Cold Hop (bottled) - 3.5

Cold Hop
"British-Style Ale" (whatever that means--it drinks like an American Pale Ale)
Boulder Beer Company
Boulder, CO
Alcohol Content: 6.5%

Jon:
The sweetness of this beer is too intense on the finish. It kind of tastes like someone slipped some Splenda in my beer. As pretty as this beer looks, it's a tad disappointing to taste.

3.2	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 8/10 3/5 6/10 3/5 3/5 5/10

Mark:
Surprisingly sweet, a bit like toast with orange marmalade with a decidingly floral aftertaste. Bright, with a golden/orange color and opaque head. Not bad for a change of pace, but I don't think I'd drink it every day.

3.3	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 6/10 3/5 6/10 4/5 4/5 6/10

Jere:
The sweetness is quite distinctive--almost makes me forget it's a beer! Not used to the heavy carbonation though, which is kind of a turn-off.

3.9	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 9/10 4/5 8/10 3/5 4/5 8/10

Avery IPA (bottled) - 3.8

Avery IPA
India Pale Ale
Avery Brewing
Boulder, CO
Alcohol Content: 6.3%

Jon:
This beer has a little bit of the IPA sourness that I'm not a huge fan of. Other than that, this is a pretty good hop-fest, and big props for Boulder breweries.

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Mark:
Obviously, I love IPA's and this one is no exception. I love that this beer is brewed right here in Boulder, Colorado. YEAH, IT IS! It just tastes fresh. No long ride in the beer truck here. This is another light, hoppy IPA with citrus (lemon and grapefruit) overtones and light golden color. This IPA is a bit mellow, by my standards, but very enjoyable. All together, a very acceptable IPA. By the way, this beer (along with every other beer) tastes quite different on tap. If you have the option of draft, go for it.

3.8	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 8/10 4/5 7/10 5/5 3/5 7/10

Jere:
Avery, Avery, Avery. Always a good buy, and I especially like the color. The cirtus-ey taste also adds to the overall experience. The only drawback I can see is the buzz factor, which isn't quite as high as I'd prefer. I always appreciate the locally brewed beer though so that's why this one rates 8 out of 10.

4.0	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 8/10 4/5 8/10 5/5 3/5 8/10

Stone IPA (bottled) - 4.5

Stone IPA
India Pale Ale
Stone Brewing Co.
Escondido, CA
Alcohol Content: 6.9%

Jon:
At first glance this IPA doesn't look quite as perfect as it really is (but damn close). And yes, it's perfect. This is what an IPA should taste like. Stone manages a perfect bitterness profile through its strong citrus overtones and clean (for an IPA) finish. This is one of our favorite beers for very good reason. And the gargoyles on the bottle? Frickin awesome.

4.5	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 9/10 5/5 10/10 4/5 4/5 9/10

Mark:
Ahh....Stone IPA, one of my perennial favorites! My favorite thing about this beer is the fantastic grapefruit aroma and overtones. Light, but extremely hoppy and nicely bitter. There's also that 6.9% alcohol level... Yee ha! This IPA is great, but not quite my favorite. Although the flavor and palate is complex (and wonderful), it seems that a lot of what comes through is the alcohol taste, which I have somehow been numbed to?! There is another IPA that I like just a little bit better--but that is yet to come. Stay tuned.

4.5	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 9/10 5/5 9/10 4/5 5/5 9/10

Jere:
Full bodied, with that unmistakable "Stone" flavor, this beer is best on tap, but the next best thing is opening a cold one up right out of the refrigerator. Well-brewed, well-rounded, this beer rates second only to the Ruination style of Stone. Two thumbs way up!

4.4	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 5/5 9/10 5/5 9/10 2/5 5/5 9/10

How we rate beer

Here is our rating method, modified from a good rating scale that can be found on RateBeer.com:

Appearance (5 points)
If it looks like a beer, we’ll probably drink it, but that doesn’t mean we’ll be extremely pleased with that decision. A good beer looks tasty and makes you want to pick it up—important characteristics such as color, head, and clarity can do a lot for the beer-drinking experience. At least that’s the case with the first couple of beers… results may vary after that.

Aroma (10 points)
Try as we might, it’s damn near impossible to taste something without smelling it, and vice versa. These senses are highly linked, so this category has a bit more weight than the first. The aroma of a beverage will often tell you even more about its subtle qualities than tasting it will. The only thing a good-smelling beer won’t help you with is how your breath smells after putting away a six-pack.

Palate (5 points)
A balanced mouthfeel is essential—drink a beer that feels too dry or overwhelming and you’ll probably need to order something else for the next round to recover. That said, different styles of beer will naturally follow a palate pattern based on their composition. Ratings in this category are usually defined by what the drinker is expecting based on the type of beer, coupled with the enjoyableness of the mouthfeel based on that expectation.

Flavor (10 points)
This is what drinking beer is all about. The balance of different flavors and the intensity of those flavors will distinguish the beers you like and the beers you tolerate. And as always in life, tolerance is a virtue.

Price (5 points)
We’re cheapskates. That’s not to say that we won’t shell out for good beer, but we expect to get what we pay for. Did I mention that we’re cheapskates?

Buzz (5 points)
Fact: People like to get a beer buzz. Fact: The older I get, the fewer beers I drink. Conclusion: A beer that feels full in my stomach and gets me a tad tipsy is a good thing—fewer drinks and a slower pace never hurt anyone.

Overall (10 points)
This is the place to give a little extra credit for anything that strikes our fancy. We’re not just talking excellence in the categories above; anything from socially responsible business practices to cool label art can get points here. The beer experience goes far beyond the act of drinking it, and this category reflects just that.

That puts us at a total of 50 points, which is divided by 10 for a total score out of 5.0. Individual band member scores are averaged to give us the master composite score, which is then laid down in the history books as absolute truth, forevermore (or until we try the same beer again).

Yeah, you read the title right... It's a blog about beer

We’ve tossed around the idea of having a band blog for a long time. But when it came down to it, I figured we didn’t have enough day-to-day news to keep anyone (especially ourselves) interested. Then it hit me—what is the one thing we do at every band practice and every gig? Play music? Yes, but ignore that fact for a moment. The one thing we do without fail at every band gathering is… you guessed it… drink beer!

And so, we finally have something to blog about. We will be using this space to post our thoughts about what we drink, and I’m sure we’ll throw some band news in there every now and then. Here’s a toast to hoping it keeps us all entertained for a while. Cheers!